Wise Purpose | 1 Nephi 19

Nephi is commanded to make the small plates of Nephi for a wise purpose in this chapter. He tells us his objective and purpose for creating these plates. These same principles drive all scripture. See if you can pick out some of those purposes. Here are some of the ones I found and how it relates to the everyday saint:

Scripture only contain sacred things and things of "great worth, both to the body and soul." The everyday saint will find peace and renewal of both body and spirit by daily feasting upon the word of God.

Only the obedient and humble will see its worth. The Lord will bless the everyday believer with great treasures of wisdom and knowledge as they go to Him in humble prayer, full of obedience.

They teach of the coming of Christ. The everyday saint will make Christ the center of their life by studying the scriptures daily. They will see Christ and His enlightenment and understanding coming into their life like "a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)

They teach of Christ's attributes. "His loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men." The daily saint will bring great blessings into their life by studying, learning, practicing and emulating Christ's attributes.

It shows the faith of the fathers that came before as they endured bondage, trials and afflictions and it shows the multitude of tender mercies that they received. The everyday disciple who learns of the faith of their fathers and the Lord's tender mercies will find strength and comfort knowing that that same loving and tender God will have mercy on them thus their own eyes will be opened to the multitude of daily blessings poured out from heaven.

They teach of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ and the mercy He has given through the Atonement. "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26) The everyday follower will look to Christ and the Atonement daily for the strength of body and spirit to overcome the follies of the world and to overcome pain and affliction.

It reveals prophecies and shows the signs of the times especially of the events leading up to the coming of Christ. The saint who studies these prophecies of old will be well-informed in their own time and the times to come. They will find direction in the uncertainties of life as the Lord reveals His will through the power of the Holy Ghost.

They show the visitations of Christ to His people. The saint of God will be visited by Christ in their times of need and they will hear His voice "unto their great joy and salvation."

It is a voice of prophetic warning to the house of Israel to those who have turned from the way. The Lord is ever waiting with arms outstretched, ready and willing to take the burden of those that heed His warnings. The daily disciple who reads, studies and follows the Lord's voice of warning will find their way in a world full of confusion and disarray.

It provides a message of tenderness and love to those who turn back to the God of Israel. A true follower of Christ will find that as they turn back to Christ daily that they will have peace as a river, continually flowing and righteousness as the waves of the sea, continuously moving and progressing toward eternal life. (Isaiah 48:18)

They teach of the Lord's covenants with His children and the renewal of those covenants with the everyday saint who turns their heart towards Him. They will find that they are eternally bound to that loving God who gave them life.

It is a tool for gathering those whose hearts are turned towards the Savior. "Yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in."  The pure in heart will recognize the Savior's words and come to Him daily to be "gathered as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings." (3 Nephi 10:4)

It will be a blessing for all mankind and it will bless the ends of the earth. "All the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord; every nation, kindred, tongue and people shall be blessed." The daily disciple will find that the scriptures will open their eyes to the saving power of a perfect Savior and to His multitude of tender mercies.

It was written to turn the hearts of men to the God of salvation. "That perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember [and that I might more fully persuade them to believe in] the Lord their Redeemer." A true follower will be persuaded to remember and believe in the Lord their Redeemer turning to Him every day with full purpose of heart and with faith.

They show the doings of the house of Israel—the Jews, the broken branches of Israel and the Gentiles. "He surely did show unto the prophets of old all things concerning them; and also he did show unto many concerning us; wherefore, it must needs be that we know concerning them for they are written upon the plates of brass." The daily seeker of truth who studies the history and follies of the Lord's people will be able to fortify themselves against repeating those same mistakes. They will learn from their history of what makes a people truly happy.

They are meant to be applied directly to the life of each that read their words. "I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning that ye may have hope." The wise will study the word of God daily seeking divine direction and applying its principles to their everyday lives.